The film, “Bamboozled,” directed
by Spike Lee is a film based on a modern day minstrel show. The new modern day African American
television series written by Pierre, the main character was intended to be
racially healing by proving a point. He believes if he creates a show that is
so obviously racist and offensive it will create awareness of how the media
portrays blacks on television. The show actually did the opposite and opened
old wounds of African Americans because of the deep history of racism in America.
Although some viewers were disgusted by the content of the series many
obviously enjoyed it because of the high reviews it received. Spike Lee the
producer was clearly trying to get a point across as well. He wants viewers to
feel uncomfortable and cringe at these stereotypes because it was once a
reality and still exists in a form and people tend to forget that.
The
two African American characters that wore blackface, Manray and Womack, were
the main characters of the minstrel show. The men were talented street
performers that were trying to make it. They were given the opportunity to be
performers on the new series. One
of the requirements was to wear a blackface over their already darker skin. During
these scenes you can see their emotions and struggles in doing such a task, but
still continue to apply blackface and perform to entertain the audience. Both
Manray and Womack still continued to play these characters even if it meant going
against everything they stand for. These are the types of roles African
Americans still continue to receive today in the media. It might not be as
transparent but television series and films still place African Americans in
stereotypical roles. These roles might be offensive to the actor/actress but
they take on these roles because this is their only way in the industry
If
you were offered a stereotypical role of your own race that offended you, would
you still accept the offer to pursue your career? What are some movies or
television series you have seen that actors/actresses take on these types of
roles?
Hi Caroline, those are great questions. I would not take an stereotypical role of my race to pursue my career. Especially if it evokes a painful history of pain and unjust legacy of the undignified much more inhumane treatment and media depictions of my race. I am not speaking in just the sense of a media or theatrical role, I am speaking any metaphoric "role" that I must play to pursue my career. The point of freedom of choice is to be "free" in every aspect. It is not enough to be physically free one must be free mentally with concurrent happiness.
ReplyDeleteSome actors or actresses that have took on these roles Taye Diggs from" Private Practice", Sofía Vergara- "Modern Family", The dude that played skills in One Tree Hill (taking it back, sorry I do not know his name), Just to thin of a few off the top of my head.
I named these actors/ actresses as reference not because they play stereotypical or blatant offensive roles. More so because of the subtitles of how their characters are presented to entertain the white privilege. All their roles have these characteristics in common: their characters have no real depth, they are basically there to support the main non- minority characters and happily do so. Sometimes their flaws (cannot maintain a healthy romantic relationship, speaks english with a strong accent, or not as smart or educated) are laughed off and looked as endearing to the white leads. Almost as they are patting them on the head. In essence it is the same sorts of relationships that blacks had with whites as we seen in the documentary "Ethic Notions" in which blacks (example maids) were honored to serve.
You both bring up really good points. I immediately thought of Sofia Vergara as well when thinking of an actress that exploits her race and heritage in a negative way. Another example was from the Jhally article we read this week and how the character on Good Times JJ became a black minstrel on the show and acted like a joke instead of a real character. The film Bamboozled was very uncomfortable to watch at times, and I think Lee did this on purpose to prove how painful these images and behaviors still are and that as a society we are not completely over our prejudices.
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